The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Smithsonian Institution recently launched an interactive website to help aspiring citizens get ready for the test. It’s called “Preparing for the Oath: U.S. History and Civics for Citizenship.” The site is at www.americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship. According to the Star Tribune, it utilizes multimedia tools to display relevant information to cover [...]

Family 1st – World numbers, China and India have jumped six weeks to 1 February 2005; 1 week advance for Mexico to 1 May 93; Philippines advanced four weeks to 22 June 97. Family 2A – World numbers, China, India, and the Philippines have jumped six weeks to 22 July 2009; Mexico advanced seven weeks [...]

Family 1st – World numbers, China and India have jumped six weeks to 1 February 2005; 1 week advance for Mexico to 1 May 93; Philippines advanced four weeks to 22 June 97. Family 2A – World numbers, China, India, and the Philippines have jumped six weeks to 22 July 2009; Mexico advanced seven weeks [...]

Family 1st – World numbers, China and India have jumped nine weeks to 22 December 2004; 1 week advance for Mexico to 22 April 93; Philippines advanced five weeks to 22 May 97. Family 2A – World numbers, China, India, and the Philippines have jumped six weeks to 8 June 09; Mexico advanced six weeks [...]

Previously, we reported that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed that “the processing of Prevailing Wage Determinations, redeterminations, and Center Director Reviews has been temporarily suspended” and we explained that this will impact the filing of PERM applications. Subsequently, processing resumed but with backlogs. To update you, DOL has provided an update on its plans for [...]

Previously, we reported that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) confirmed that “the processing of Prevailing Wage Determinations, redeterminations, and Center Director Reviews has been temporarily suspended” and we explained that this will impact the filing of PERM applications. Since then, pressure has been mounting for the DOL to lift the suspension and resume processing. [...]

In a significant policy announcement, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has stated that it will extend legal status to non-derivative household members of prinicipal non-immigrant visa holders — beyond his or her spouse and children. This marks a significant change to the eligibility status for cohabitating partners, caregivers, parents, and other nonimmigrant household [...]

What’s another easy fix that the Obama Administration can make happen today? The USCIS could resume Premium Processing Service for I-140 National Interest Waiver petitions in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(f)(2). The Texas Service Center (TSC) processing time indicates that they are processing cases with a receipt date of September 28, 2010. This does not necessarily mean a ten month wait either. Last month, the [...]

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has confirmed that “the processing of Prevailing Wage Determinations, redeterminations, and Center Director Reviews has been temporarily suspended.” This will impact the filing of PERM applications. Indeed, a prevailing wage determination by the DOL is a necessary antecedent to filing any PERM application for employment-based permanent residence. The temporary [...]

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released statistics on Immigrant Petitions for Alien Workers (I-140) with Classification of EB-1A (“E-11) with respect to overall receipts, approvals, denials and request for evidence for fiscal years 2010 and 2011 year-to-date. In 2010, 5,414 petitions were submitted to USCIS for their review. Of those, 3,272 (60%) were approved [...]